



.Class __D_£?__£^ 
Book_^ff4. 



CopyiightN°_ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



Additional copies of U A Reasonable 
Way to Study the Bible " may be had 
by applying to Miss Isabella T. Redfield, 
290 South Street, Pittsfield, Massachusetts. 
Fifty cents, postpaid. 



A REASONABLE 
WAY TO STUDY THE BIBLE 

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 
THE EPISTLES 

ISABELLA T. REDFIELD 




PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR 
PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS 






LIBRARY of C0N6RESS, 

Two Copies R»ceiY«a 

DEC 23 1907 

Copyrif lit Entry 
CUS54 XX* No. 



Copyright 1907 by 
Isabella T. Redfield 



Thomas Todd, Printer 
14 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass. 



FOREWORD 



FOREWORD 

This course is the result of my own need in teaching 
the Bible. If scholars can be made to think, they will 
be interested in it. I found that in answering these 
questions with no helps but their Bibles, they did think 
and took considerable pride in the feeling that the ideas 
they got were their own. This in itself was enough to 
stimulate them mentally. Even with bright students it 
is impossible to cover the ground in any of these studies 
at one sitting ; but the grouping of the text of The Acts 
in large sections, like the missionary journeys or the 
early days in Jerusalem, is an advantage in that it 
tends to give students a grasp of the whole situation. 
In teaching these questions one should not be haunted 
by the idea that each subject must be finished on a 
specified day. To some extent the speed should be 
adapted to the intelligence of the students, and enough 



6 Foreword 

margin of time allowed to complete the course in com- 
fort. The Epistle to the Galatians is placed at its 
earliest possible date, because it fits in well after the 
Council of Jerusalem. The Revised Bible, English or 
American, is indispensable. A list of useful books will 
be found at the end. 

Isabella T. Redfield. 
Pitts-field, Mass., March, 1907. 



I 
THE NEW BEGINNING 



THE NEW BEGINNING 

Acts i : i — 5 : 42; 12: 12. 

What was the motive for the writing of The Acts ? 

Fix this story into its setting of time and place. 

What organization is described as struggling into 
existence ? 

Who were its natural leaders? Why? What did 
they call themselves ? 

What incident suggests that their hopes in regard 
to the nature of the kingdom of God were some- 
what earthly and national? 

How did they get opportunities to preach ? 

Who is the prominent figure in this account ? 

What action was taken at his suggestion? Why? 

Judging from the references to financial affairs, 
were members expected to give their entire 
property to the organization? In what graphic 
way does the author of this narrative point out 
the moral danger in such a custom? 



io The New Beginning 

How did their religion reveal itself through their 

daily life? 
How did it express itself in their own meetings? 
How did these early believers show that they were 

still loyal Jews? 
What Jewish sect was troubled because this little 

community was growing ? Find indications that 

it had strong vitality. 
Through what great spiritual experience did it 

pass? 
What seems to be the New Testament explanation 

of this experience? Acts 8: 17, 18; 10: 44- 

46; 19: 6; 1 Cor. 14: 1-33; 12: 10, 30. 
Study the recorded speeches and the prayer, and 

tell: 
What inherited religious ideas the members of 

this small company held; 
What new convictions they added to their Jewish 

faith ; 
Which one they regarded as fundamental; 
What arguments they used to prove that these 

convictions were founded upon facts, and what 

sources they searched to find explanation and 

interpretation of these facts; 



The New Beginning n 

What they quoted from these sources; 

What enlarged idea of God they developed under 

the influence of new convictions; 
What characteristic of the Messiah they learned 

not only to accept but to consider essential; 
What points they emphasized in their efforts to 

win men to a belief in the Messiahship of Jesus. 



II 
EXTENSION 



EXTENSION 

Acts 6: i — 9: 2; 11: 19-30; 22: 3-5, 10-21; 

26: 2-1 1 ; Galatians 1: 13, 14; 
1 Corinthians 15: 9; 1 Thessalonians 2: 14-16. 

Master the geography. 

What two men of marked ability came in conflict 

in Jerusalem? 
How did they meet? 
Discover some of the points at issue between them; 

try to get at the point of view of each. 
What conservative sect did their debates excite? 

Why had it not been alarmed before? 
What tendency in the ideas discussed would arouse 

the wrath of strict Jews? 
Study the recorded address of Stephen and point 

out: 
The difference between the old Hebrew idea of 

God held in modified form by the mass of the 

Jews and the larger conception discerned by 



1 6 Extension 

the prophets, grasped by the early church and 
accepted today; 
The contrast between the Jewish and the Christian 
interpretations of three great periods of He- 
brew history, the patriarchal, the Mosaic, and 
the Davidic; 
The obvious allusions to the mistake made by the 
Jews in laying greater stress upon ritual than 
upon life; 
Those characteristics of the Jews exposing them 

to criticism and rebuke; 
A just standard for measuring the moral responsi- 
bility of a nation. 

What was the result of these debates so far as 
each of the two leaders was concerned? 

What was the result so far as the church was 
concerned ? 

What great opportunity for extension did this give 
Christianity? 

How did it stimulate the development of its dis- 
tinctive ideas? 

Among what class did it find its best field? 



Extension 1 7 

What characteristic of Christianity vital to its 
larger growth was foreign to the genius of the 
church of Jerusalem? 

What new center was Christianity making for 
itself? 

What statement suggests that it was breaking the 
bonds of Judaism and beginning an independent 
career? 

What hard work and suffering did the spread of 
Christianity in those early days entail ? Com- 
pare Matt. 10: 5-23, 28. 



Ill 

THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF 
PAUL'S EARLY LIFE 



THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF PAUL'S 
EARLY LIFE 

Philippians 3: 4-6; Galatians 1:1, n-24; 

Ephesians 3 : 1-8 ; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 

2 Corinthians 12: 11, 12; 11: 32, 33; 

Acts 9: 1-30; 26: 2-23; 21: 37 — 22: 29; 23: 16; 

11: 25-30; 12: 24, 25. 

Master the geography. 

Tell Paul's birthplace; of his family, their position 
as Jews, their rank in the Roman Empire and 
the consequent advantage to Paul; of his edu- 
cation; of his attainments compared with those 
of his fellows and his reputation among them. 

What was his object in going to Damascus? 

What befell him on the way? 

How did the circumstances of his arrival belie his 
anticipations ? 

How long did he stay away from Jerusalem? 

Why did he not go back there immediately? 



22 The Circumstances of PauVs Early Life 

Where did he go? 

Divine his reasons for going there. 

How does he rank himself? 

What does Galatians imply about the relative length 
of time spent in Arabia and Damascus? 

What did he finally go to Jerusalem for? 

How long did he stay? Which of the apostles did 
he see? 

What does the Galatian account imply about the 
publicity of that sojourn in Jerusalem? 

Estimate approximately the number of years from 
his conversion until he again appears in the 
Acts account. Compare Gal. i: 18 — 2: 10 with 
Acts 15: 1-2 1 ; notice carefully the bearing 
of Acts 11: 19-30 and 13: 1 — 14: 28. 

What indicates that he gained a prominence dan- 
gerous to himself? 

What does he tell us of his whereabouts and of 
his work during these years? 

What does Acts 15: 23, 41 imply in regard to its 
nature and results? 

How was Paul splendidly equipped for this work? 

How did circumstances call him toward it? 



The Circumstances of PauPs Early Life 23 

When and where did he begin it? 

What incident resulted in enlarging the whole scale 

of his mission work? 
What city seems to have been his headquarters 

during these years? 
What reason does he give for the fact that to him 

was given a special revelation? 



IV 

PAUL'S MENTAL AND 
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT 



PAUL'S MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL 
DEVELOPMENT 

What inborn conviction was the starting point of 

Paul's thinking ? What did he deem the greatest 

blessing a man could have ? Ps. 30 : 5b ; 5 : 12 ; 

32: 2. 
How did he try to get it? What did he think was 

the standard of right? Rom. 2: 17-25; 9: 31 — 

10: 3; Phil. 3: 4-6; Gal. 1: 14. 
What was this "law"? What did it include? 

2 Chron. 33: 8; Ezra 7: 6; Neh. 1: 7; 9: 13, 

14; 10: 29; Rom. 9: 4; 2: 17-23; 7: 12. 
Why was it so hard to obey? What unattainable 

perfection was Paul striving for? Acts 15: 10; 

Mark 7: 3, 4; Gal. 2: 16; 3: 10, 11. 
What disheartening failure was he conscious of? 

What inner struggle had lasting influence upon 

him? Rom. 7: 7-25. 
To what lengths was he driven in search of peace? 

Gal. 1 : 13, 14; 1 Cor. 15: 9. 



28 PauVs Mental and Spiritual Development 

What was his objection to the gospel? What men- 
ace to his revered Jewish ideas did he see in it? 
Gal. 2: 15-21; 5: 14; 3: 7-14, 28. 

Who in Paul's thought was alone responsible for 
his conversion? Gal. 1: 11, 12, 14, 15. 

What did he think happened on that occasion which 
put him upon the same plane with the apostles? 

1 Cor. 9: 1 ; 15: 8. 

In his thought how long did it take to convince 
him? Gal. 1 : 11-17. 

When he came out from that experience, what new 
convictions did he bring with him ? Rom. 1 : 
1-4; 4: 24, 25; 8: 34; 1 Cor. 1: 23; 15: 1-8; 

2 Cor. 5: 15. 

Unconscious of it though he was, what persons and 
events must have so impressed him as to pre- 
pare his mind for this experience? 

What kind of appointment or instruction does he 
flatly deny? Gal. 1: 1, II, 12, 15-17. 

From what notions about the law did he cut him- 
self free? How did his view of its purpose 
change? Gal. 3: 21; Rom. 3: 20-23, 28-31; 
4: 13-15; 7: 7> 12; 10: 4. 



PauPs Mental a?id Spiritual Development 29 

What characteristic of the Messiah did he learn to 

• glory in? Gal. 6: 14; 1 Cor. 1: 23, 24. 
What conviction was the foundation of his faith? 

1 Cor. 15: 12-19. 
How did his idea of righteousness develop? How 

could it be had? Gal. 2: 14-21; Phil. 3: 3-14; 

Rom. 1: 16, 17; 2: 11-16; 3: 21-31. 
How does Paul depict the strength and beauty of 

the Christian motive to righteous living? Rom. 

6: 6-12; Gal. 2: 19, 20; 2 Cor. 5: 17; 8: 9; 

Phil. 2: 5-1 1. 
Why was his conversion such a mental relief that 

the sacrifice involved was hardly worthy the 

name? Rom. 8: 1-8; 2 Cor. 5: 18, 19. 



V 

THE GREAT PROBLEM OF 
THE EARLY CHURCH 



THE GREAT PROBLEM OF THE 
EARLY CHURCH 

ActS 9: 31 II; l8; 12: 1-23; 21: 20; 

Matthew 4: 21; 20: 20-23; Galatians 1: 19; 2: 9. 

Master the geography. 

Distinguish between the apostles mentioned. 
Get from this narrative general impressions about: 
The attitude of the Jewish and the Roman author- 
ities toward the church; 
The nature and the extent of the work done by 

the apostles; 
The degree to which the Gentile had figured as a 
possible convert in the mind of the Jewish 
Christian. Compare Matt. 10: 5, 6. 
Study the story of Cornelius and Peter and his 
vindication of himself in Jerusalem and answer 
the following questions : 
What distinction did the Jews make between 
themselves and other nations? 



34 The Great Problem of the Early Church 

Why did the Jews abstain from certain kinds of 

food? 
At what point did intercourse between Jews and 

Gentiles cease? 
What was the Jewish estimate of the Gentile? 
In view of this estimate, what problem did Gentile 

acceptance of the gospel present to the Jewish 

Christian ? 
Why was it a perplexing problem to him ? 
How did contact with Gentile Christians enlarge 

his outlook? 
To what point did it raise his estimate of the 

Gentile ? 
How did such contact belittle current Jewish 

standards of living? 
How did it change the Jewish standard of right- 
eousness ? 
What great themes were intelligent Gentiles of 

that day questioning about? 
What events had given zest to such questioning? 
To what race would they naturally turn for light ? 
What ideas of value to the world were the Jews 

responsible for? 



The Great Problem of the Early Church 35 

What lesson must the Jewish Christian learn 
before he could teach the Gentile to discrim- 
inate between these ideas and the valueless 
notions of the Jews? 

What bearing would the persecution which began 
with the execution of Stephen have upon the 
question of the Jews as a whole accepting Jesus 
of Nazareth as the Messiah? 

How would Jewish Christians who cared for their 
race feel about this ? Rom. 9 : 1 — 1 1 : 36 ; 
2 Cor. 3: 14, 15. 



VI 



PAUL'S FIRST (RECORDED) 
MISSIONARY JOURNEY 



PAUL'S FIRST (RECORDED) 
MISSIONARY JOURNEY 

Acts 13: 1— 14: 28; 12: 24, 25; 15: 36-41; 

Colossians 4: 10, 11; 2 Timothy 4: 11; 

2 Corinthians 11: 25, 26. 

Master the geography; what is the bearing of Acts 

4: 36, 37 and Gal. 4: 13? 
Mention indications of the time occupied on this 

journey. 
What church stood behind the enterprise? 
What was its immediate cause? 
What was the significance of the action taken by 

this church? 
Mention the members of the party and any change 

therein during the journey; consider reasons 

for this and opinions about it. 
What incident suggests the personal appearance of 

the apostles? See also 2 Cor. 10: 10. 
Find hints of a change of leadership. 



40 PauPs First Missionary Journey 

Illustrated in this journey find four characteristics 
of the civilized world which made possible the 
spread of Christianity. 

Who seems to have done the larger part of the 
preaching ? 

What prevalent form of superstition did the apostles 
encounter ? 

What discouragement and opposition did they meet ? 

How did they come in direct contact with the 
Roman government? 

How did they get opportunities to preach? 

What two classes of hearers did they secure in this 
way? 

With which class were their greatest successes won ? 

What conviction of Paul's was strengthened by this 
experience ? 

What churches were founded? 

Why was this journey a critical period for Chris- 
tianity ? 

Study with their context the two recorded speeches 
and contrast: 
The circumstances and surroundings; 
The types of hearers; 



PauVs First Missionary Journey 41 

Their views of God; 
The grounds of appeal to them; 
God's ways of revealing Himself. 
Study the address in the synagogue with reference 
to: 
The Jewish objections it meets; 
The interpretation of Jewish history and prophecy 

it commends; 
The allusions to Hebrew history and quotations 

from Jewish sources it contains; 
The great facts it argues for; 
The conclusions it reaches. 



VII 

THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM 



THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM 

Galatians 2: 1 — 3: 29; Acts 15: 1-35. 

Master the geography. 

What was the essential distinction between the 

Jerusalem church and the Antioch church? 
Which one thought it had the supreme authority? 
What was Paul's opinion concerning the right of 

this church to dictate to others? 
How did it force an issue on the great question of 

the day? 
What was this question? Why was it imperative 

that it be settled? What would an adverse 

decision have meant to Paul and his churches? 
What class of people in the Jerusalem church were 

the leaders in this controversy? 
What was Paul's opinion of some of them and their 

motives ? 
With whom was he willing to discuss the matter and 

try to settle it ? 



46 The Council of Jerusalem 

What brought him to the conclusion that this was 

the wisest course? 
What was his point of view? How did he think 

righteousness, justification, could be had? 

What was his view of the use of the Jewish 

law? 
What was the point of view of the conservatives? 

How did they think righteousness, justification, 

could he had? What was their view of the use 

of the Jewish law? 
What recent experiences enabled Paul to see into 

the future more clearly than they? 
What was the point of view of James, Peter, and 

John ? How did they differ from Paul ? 
About what matter did they agree with him? 
What convinced them that Paul had some ground 

for his opinion? 
To what extent did they support him and Barnabas ? 

What arrangement was made about the work? 
What does the Galatian account imply in regard to 

the strength of the opposition with which Paul 

had to contend? 
What precaution did he take to secure a fair hearing 

before the Jerusalem church? 



The Council of Jerusalem 47 

What was the object in taking Titus? 

What arguments did Paul use to convince the coun- 
cil that his point of view was the right one? 

Discover indications that the contest was so severe 
that he needed all his resources to gain even a 
compromise. 

To what extent did he influence the council ? What 
did they decide? 

What important practical matter was he forced to 
leave unsettled which had to be fought out later 
at Antioch? 



VIII 

THE EPISTLE TO THE 
GALATIANS 



THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 

In what parts of the Roman Empire did Paul do 
the most work? i: 2, 21-24; Rom. 19: 26; 
1 Thess. 1: 7,8; 1 Cor. 16: 19; 2 Cor. 1: 8. 

Where was Galatia? 

How many times did Paul go there? Acts 13: 14 — 
14: 24; 16: 6; 18: 23. 

What was the immediate cause of his first visit? 

4: 13- 

How did the Galatians receive him at that time? 

4: 12-15. 
Was this letter written before or after the Council 

of Jerusalem? 2: 1-10. 
How many times had Paul been in Galatia before it 

was written? 4: 13. 
What other suggestions have we of its date ? 1:6; 

2: 11-13. 
Who are mentioned in the salutation? 
What does 6: 11 imply about the writing of most 

of Paul's letters? Compare Rom. 16: 22. 



52 The Epistle to the Galatians 

Were the Galatian churches Jewish or Gentile? 

3: 1 — 4: 11, 21 — 5: 12; 6: 11-16. 
What ideas about God and Christ had Paul taught 

the Galatians? 1: 1-4; 3: 1; 4: 4-7, 9; 6: 14. 
What ideas about righteous living had he taught 

them? 5: 16-23. 
How were they getting on at the time of his second 

visit? 5: 7. 
Account for the difference in tone between the 

second paragraph and the corresponding part 

in his other letters. 
What pernicious ideas suddenly appeared in Gala- 

tia? 2: 15, 16; 4: 9, 10; 5: 1-15. 
To what extent were they accepted ? 1 : 6-9 ; 

3: 1-4; 4: 8-11, 16-21; 5: 1-12; 6: 11-13. 
Where would teachers of such ideas naturally come 

from ? 
How did they try to undermine Paul's influence? 

What plausible arguments did they use? 1:1, 

11 — 2: 10; 1: 10; 5: 11; 4: 16. 
Did Paul know who they were ? 1:7; 2 : 3-6 ; 

3: 1 ; 4: 17; 5: 7, 10, 12; 6: 12, 13. 
Why does he go into such detail about the Council 

of Jerusalem? 



The Epistle to the Galatians 53 

Why does he go into such detail about his own call ? 
What radical idea did he announce in this letter? 

3 = 28 > 2 9- 
What temporary purpose had the law to serve? 

3: 19, 23-25. 
Wherein lay its weakness? 3: 10, 21. 
Wherein lay the strength of the gospel? 2: 19-21; 

4: 6, 7. 
Divide the epistle into parts containing : 

Paul's reasons for believing he had a direct call 
from God to preach the gospel to the Gentiles; 
His way of adapting it to them; 
Advice about daily living. 



IX 

PAUL'S SECOND (RECORDED) 
MISSIONARY JOURNEY 



PAUL'S SECOND (RECORDED) 
MISSIONARY JOURNEY 

Acts 15: 36 — 18: 22\ 2 Corinthians 1: 19; 
1 Thessalonians 1: 1, 6-10; 3: 1-7; 2: 2, 9, 14, 15; 

2 Thessalonians 3: 7-10; 
Philippians 4: 15, 16; 1 Corinthians 1: 22 — 2: 5. 

Master the geography. 

Mention indications of the time occupied on this 
journey. 

What was its immediate cause? 

Mention the members of the party at all points of 
the journey; look sharply for one not men- 
tioned by name. 

What part of Paul's itinerary was complete at the 
start? How did the plan unfold itself as he 
went along? Where is the dramatic point? 

In what four cities did he found churches? 

Which one of these churches was picturesque in 
its origin? 



58 PauVs Second Missionary Journey 

Which one earned an enviable reputation in the 

region ? 
In what city did Paul settle down and spend consid- 
erable time? 
What seems to have been the attitude of the Roman 

government toward him? 
What discouragement and opposition did he meet? 
What use did he make of his Roman citizenship? 
What use did he make of his trade ? 
From what church did he accept financial help? 
In what city did he preach without success? How 

did he feel about this? 
Why were its people so hard to convince? 
How did this city affect him? Why were the cir- 
cumstances of his visit peculiarly trying? 
Study the address made there and point out: 
The aspect of the city used as a text; 
The common spiritual craving thus recognized; 
The relation God bears to the world; 
The relation He bears to all life; 
The relation nations bear to each other; 
The relation God bears to their history; 
The truth they might discern through that history ; 



PauVs Second Missionary Journey 59 

The intimate relationship between God and man; 

The effect of ignorance upon responsibility; 

The obligation that comes with knowledge ; 

The distinction of the Godhead emphasized; 

The sources quoted; 

The great fact proclaimed; 

The conclusions reached. 



X 

THE EPISTLES TO THE 
THESSALONIANS 



THE EPISTLES TO THE 
THESSALONIANS 

Fit these letters into the Acts account, i and 2 

Thess. 1: 1; 1 Thess. 3:6; Acts 18: 1, 5-1 1. 
Account for Silas and Timothy after they left 

Bercea. 1 Thess. 3: 1, 2; 1: 1; 2 Thess. 1:1; 

Acts 17: 14-16. 
How long after Paul left Thessalonica was 1 Thes- 

salonians written? 1: 8, 9; 2: ly, 18; 3: 1-6; 

Acts 17: 1 — 18: 11. 
What was the immediate occasion of this letter? 

3: 6. 
What did Paul command them to do with it ? 5 : 2j. 
What had he been eager to do ? Why ? What had 

prevented him? What two things did he do 

instead? 1 Thess. 2: 17 — 3: 13; Acts 17: 9. 
Judge of the length of time between the writing of 

the two letters. 2 Thess. 2: 1, 2, 15; 1 : 1, 3, 4; 

2 Cor. 1:1; Rom. 16: 1. 



64 The Epistles to the Thess alonians 

What characteristics had this church? (1 Thess. 

2: 13; 1: s) (1: 6-10) (3: 6) (4: 9, 10; 

5: 11; 2 Thess. 1:3) (1 Thess. 2: 14; 3: 4; 

2 Thess. 1:4) (1 Thess. 4: 11, 12; 2 Thess. 

3: 11, 12) (3: 4). 
Was it largely Jewish or Gentile ? 1 Thess. 1:9; 

2: 14. Find, if you can, quotations from the 

Old Testament or allusions to Jewish history 

and the Messiahship of Jesus. 
What tendency is reflected in 1 Thess. 5: 12, 13? 
How did Paul meet criticism of his motives? 

1 Thess. 2: 1-16. 

Notice in the same passage the picture of his daily 

life. 
What point in his teaching did he emphasize in 

Thessalonica? 1 Thess. 1: 10; 3: 13; 4: 13 — 

5: 2; 2 Thess. 2: 1-12. 
What interpretation of this point was current? 

2 Thess. 2: 1-3. Compare 2 Thess. 2\ 2, 15 
with 3: 17. 

Why did this cause some members of the church 

great anxiety? 1 Thess. 4: 13-18. 
What was the unwholesome practical effect? 2 

Thess. 3: 6-15. 



The Epistles to the Thessalonians 65 

How would such conduct seriously injure the cause? 
What kind of living did Paul expect of his converts ? 

1 Thess. 3: 12, 13; 5: 8-24. 
What key to 2 Thess. 2: 1-12 did they possess 

which we do not? 2 Thess. 2: 5. 
Taking these epistles together, point out the parts 
containing : 
Details about Paul and the church; 
Advice about daily living; 
Teaching about the only doctrinal topic treated. 



XI 



PAUL'S THIRD (RECORDED) 
MISSIONARY JOURNEY 



PAUL'S THIRD (RECORDED) 
MISSIONARY JOURNEY 

Acts 18: 23 — 21 : 16, 29; 27: 2; 2 Timothy 1 : 15-18; 

4: 19; 1 Corinthians 1: 1; 3: 1-10; 16: 1-19; 

Romans 16: 21-23, 5b; 1: 8-17; 15: 22-33; 

2 Corinthians 2: 12, 13; 7: 5-7; 6: 1 — 9: 15. 

Master the geography; what is the bearing of 

Rom. 15: 19; 2 Cor. 1:1? 
Mention indications of the time occupied on this 

journey. 
Mention the members of the party and Paul's fellow- 
workers at all points of the journey. Notice 

the one not mentioned by name. 
Toward what important center w T ere Paul's thoughts 

turned? Why had he not worked there before? 

Why was he anxious to do so now? 
What extraordinary experiences did he have there 

of which we can gather the merest outline? 

1 Cor. 4: 9-13; 15: 30-32; 2 Cor. 1: 3-1 1. 



70 PauVs Third Missionary Journey 

Who shared some of these experiences with him? 
Rom. 16: 3, 4, 7. 

What was the reason for the tumult in Ephesus 
described in The Acts? 

On what other occasion had Gentiles opposed Paul 
for similar reasons? 

What authorities were friendly to him? 

Who were always embracing every opportunity to 
oppose him? 

What knowledge of Paul's life at Ephesus can be 
had from the address at Miletus? 

Find in it a saying of Jesus not quoted elsewhere. 

What flying visit did Paul make during his Ephesian 
sojourn? 2 Cor. 1 : 15, 16, 23; 2: 12, 13; 12: 14; 
13: 1, 2; 1 Cor. 16: 5-8. 

What project was near to his heart during the 
whole of this journey? 

Why was he specially anxious to succeed in this 
undertaking ? What had been said at the Coun- 
cil of Jerusalem about it? What did he hope 
to accomplish by it? 

What churches helped him? What definite instruc- 
tions did he give about the way in which this 
fund should be raised? 



PauVs Third Missionary Journey 71 

What churches were represented in the delegation 

which went to Jerusalem with him? 
How did he carefully guard himself from suspicion? 
What plans for his own life and work was he 

maturing? Why did he not visit Ephesus on 

his way to Jerusalem? 
Point out evidence that he and his friends were 

doubtful about the cordiality of his reception 

in Jerusalem. 
Why did he insist on going there? 
How was Paul's course at the Council of Jerusalem 

and later at Antioch abundantly justified by 

his experiences in all the following years? 



XII 

THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE 
CORINTHIANS 



THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE 

CORINTHIANS 

What events affecting the Corinthian church took 
place between its founding and the writing of 
this letter? (Acts 18: 24 — 19: 1; 1 Cor. 16: 
12) 1 Cor. (5: 9) (7: 1; 8: 1; 12: 1) (1: 11) 
(1: 17; 16: 10, 11; Acts 19: 22) (1 Cor. 
16: 15-18.) 

Fit this epistle into the Acts account. Compare 
16: 19 with Acts 18: 18, 19; 
4: 12; 16: 12 with Acts 18: 24 — 19: 1; 
16: 1-9 with Acts 19: 21, 22; 
1 : 1 ; 2 Cor. 1 : 1 with Acts 19 : 22. 

What characteristics had this church? (1: 22; 
3: 18-21) (4: 6-8, 18-21) (3: 1-4; 11: 17,, 
18, 22, 33, 34) (5: 2) (6: 7) (10: 12) (4: 12) 
2 Cor. (9: 1, 2; 8: 10) (8: 7). 

Was it composed largely of Tews or of Gentiles ? 
1 : 18-25; 6: 1-11; 8: 1-13; 10: 1-33; 11: 17- 
34; 12: 2, 13; 14: 1-40. 



76 The First Epistle to the Corinthians 

What was its general caliber as regards rank, means, 

and culture? 1: 20-31; 11: 20-22; 16: 15; 

2 Cor. 8: 1 — 9: 15. 
What feeling of diffidence had Paul when first he 

preached in Corinth? 2: 1-5; 2 Cor. 10: 1, 10; 

11: 6; 13: 3. 
What points in his teaching did he emphasize? 

2: 1, 2; 3: 11; 8: 6; 15: 1-58; 2 Cor. 1: 19; 

4: s, 6; 12: 12. 
How did he define the contrast between the Jewish 

and the Greek mind ? 1 : 22. 
Explain his position upon the question of his support 

in its bearing on the churches in general and 

the Corinthian church in particular: 9: 1-27; 

2 Cor. 11: 7-10; 1 Thess. 2: 9; 2 Thess. 

3: 7-15; Phil. 4: 10-17. 
How had news of this church reached him? 1 : 11 ; 

7: 1; 16: 12, 15-18. 
What disorders had arisen? (1: 10-17; 3: 1-9; 

16: 12) (5: 1-13) (6: 1-11) (11: 17-34) 

(12: 1-31) (15: 12). 
About what matters had the church asked his ad- 
vice? (7: 1-10) (8: 1-13) (10: 14-33) ( I2 - 1— 

14: 40) (15: 1-58). 



The First Epistle to the Cori?ithians 77 

Point out the introduction to this epistle and the 

passage giving details of the plans of Paul and 

his friends. 
Divide what remains into two parts, discussing: 
Church affairs known to Paul through Christians 

from Corinth; 
Questions the church had asked by letter. 
Sum up the matters contained in each part. 
Notice the beautiful and familiar sections in the 

letter. 



XIII 

THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE 
CORINTHIANS 



THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE 
CORINTHIANS 

How many letters did Paul to our knowledge write 

to the Corinthians ? i Cor. 5 : 9 ; 2 Cor. 2 : 4, 9 ; 

7: 5-16. 
Which are preserved to us? Compare the general 

tone of 10: 1 — 13: 10 with that of the rest of 

the epistle, especially 7: 4 — 9: 15; 1: 12-14; 

2: 5-11; 3: 2, 3. 
Study the state of affairs in the church reflected 

in 10: 1 — 13: 10: 

What petty things were said about Paul? 

How was his influence being undermined? 

Was this due to Jewish or Gentile influence? 

What was the ground of the opposition? 

What intense anxiety did it cause Paul ? What 

did he fear? 
Study the state of affairs reflected in the other 

part of the epistle, especially 7: 4 — 9: 15; 

1: 12-14; 2: 5-11; 3: 2, 3: 



82 The Second Epistle to the Corinthians 

Consider Paul's relief at the coming of Titus ; 

How did he represent affairs in the church? 

What was the general feeling toward Paul? 
Compare 12: 11 with 3: 1, 2; 5: 12. 
What kind of letter do 2:4; 7: 8-12 imply, 

one like 1 Corinthians or like 2 Cor. 10: 1 — 

13: 10? 
* What theory about 10: 1 — 13: 10 best meets these 

facts ? 
What events affecting the Corinthian church took 

place between the writing of our 1 Corinthians 

and the incident recorded in 2 Cor. 8: 16-24? 

(1 Cor. 16: 7; 2 Cor. 1: 15-17, 23; 2: 1; 

12: 14; 13: 1, 2) (2: 3, 4, 9; 7: 8) (2: 12, 

13; 7: 5) (1: 1) (12: 17, 18; 8: 6) (2: 5-8; 

7: 7-16) (7: 6). 
Who carried the last of these letters to Corinth? 

8: 16-24. 
Fit it into the Acts account: 2: 12, 13; 7: 5-7; 

8: 1-5; 9: 1-5. Compare 1: 1 with Acts 20: 22 

and 1 Cor. 16: 5-9 with Acts 20: 1, 2. 
To whom is it addressed? 
Taking out from our 2 Corinthians the part about 

the collection and Paul's defense of himself 



The Second Epistle to the Corinthians 83 

against the slanders rife in Corinth, find in 
what remains: 

Personal reminiscences in their bearing on the 
church of Corinth; 

A description of the message Paul had for men, 
of its value compared with that of Moses, of 
Paul's pride and joy in it, and of his sacrifices 
in order that he might make his appeal not 
only with his lips but through his life. 
Explain the difference in the kind of problem Paul 
had to meet in the church of Corinth and in 
the churches of Galatia. 



XIV 

THE EPISTLE TO THE 
ROMANS 



THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS 

Fit this letter into the Acts account: i Cor. 16: 1-9; 

2 Cor. 8: 1 — 9: 15; Rom. 15: 22-33. Compare 

1: 8-13 with Acts 19: 21, and 15: 30-33 with 

Acts 20: 20-25; 21: 10-14. 
Consider the origin of the church in Rome. 
How had Paul heard about it? 
What was his relation to it? 15: 20; 2 Cor. 10: 

15, 16. 
How did he show his interest in it? 1: 9-15. 
Was it composed largely of Gentiles or of Jews? 

1: 5, 6, 13-17; 2: 17-29; 4: 1; 7: 1, 4-6; 

11: 1, 13-32; 15: 15, 16. 
What was the occasion of this letter? 1: 8-17; 

15: 15-33- 
Notice some of Paul's ideas and the words he used 
to express them: 
Three favorite forms of expression for the way 
of salvation: the legal (3: 21-26; 5: 1); the 
mystical (6: 2, 4, 11 ; Col. 2: 12; Eph. 2: 1); 



88 The Epistle to the Romans 

the vital (8: i, 10, n; 13: 14; Gal. 2: 20; 

3: 2j\ 2 Cor 5: 17; 13: 5). 

His use of contrasting words in pairs: (5: 10, 17, 
21; 6: 4, 11, 23; 8: 2, 10; 11: 15) (5: 19; 
6: 13, 16, 18, 20; 8: 10) (8: 4-9, 12, 13) 
(3: 28; 9: 32) (6: 14, 15) (4: 4) (7: 6; 
2 Cor. 3:6). 

His definition of the kingdom of God: 14: 17, 18. 
Point out the introduction to the epistle, the per- 
sonal items, and the practical part. 
Find the discussion of the attitude of the Jews 

toward Christianity. 
In what remains point out the sections as follows : 

A definition of the gospel; 

Righteousness not yet attained either by Gentiles 
blind to the revelation of God in nature and 
man, or by Jews blind to the best spirit of 
their written law; 

Paul's idea of righteousness and of how it could 
be had, exemplified in 

Abraham ; 

An estimate of its value, increased by 

The contrast between life and death, Adam and 
Christ; 



The Epistle to the Romans 89 

Unique figures of speech expressing the power 
of the personality of Christ, illustrated by 

The states of slavery and marriage; 

A glimpse of a battle in Paul's own mind; 

His consequent peace of mind; 

The obligations and compensations of the Chris- 
tian life. 
What is Paul's idea of righteous living? 12: 1 — 
IS: 13- 



XV 

THE CRISIS 



THE CRISIS 

Acts 21: 17 — 24: 2J\ 2J\ 2; 
1 Thessalonians 2: 14-16. 

Master the geography. 

How long a time does this section cover? 

Where was Paul during the larger part of this time ? 

Which of his friends were with him in Jerusalem 

and in Caesarea? Notice the one not mentioned 

by name. What residents of Caesarea did Paul 

know? 
What kind of a welcome did the party receive in 

Jerusalem ? 
Who was the head of the church there? 
What did Paul tell him and the elders about? 
What was the attitude of the great mass of Jewish 

Christians toward him? Had this attitude 

changed since the Council of Jerusalem? 
What was the decision of that Council? Where 

was the weak point in that decision? How did 



94 The Crisis 

Paul's experience emphasize this point and 

oblige him to go a step farther? 
What report about his preaching and conduct was 

current in Jerusalem? 
To what extent was this true ? See Paul's encounter 

with Peter at Antioch; also I Cor. 9: 19-23; 

Rom. 14: 13-23. 
What did Paul's Jerusalem friends fear? What 

did they propose as a safeguard? See also 

Num. 6: 1-21. 
How did the issue prove that the anxiety of all his 

friends about this visit to Jerusalem was only 

too well grounded? 
Who seem to have been the instigators of this 

attack ? 
Was it countenanced by the Jewish Christians 

whom James wanted to conciliate? 
What became of the collection? Did it accomplish 

its end? 
What power stepped in to prevent violence against 

Paul? 
What difficulty did it have in making out a case 

against him? 



The Crisis 95 

What kind of accusation would appeal to Romans ? 

What seems to have been their opinion about his 
guilt or innocence ? 

How was Paul enabled to some extent to protect 
himself ? 

What weakness of Felix seriously affected Paul's 
fate ? 

Study his idea of justification and tell why his belief 
and preaching were so offensive to Tews. 

What did he think was the great sin of his race ? 

How had he tried to prevent it ? 

What was the logic of events teaching him in re- 
gard to the probability of the Jews as a whole 
accepting Christ ? 



XVI 
FROM C^SAREA TO ROME 



FROM C/ESAREA TO ROME 

Acts 25 : 1 — 28: 31 

What political change resulted in Paul's being 

brought to trial in Caesarea a second time ? 
How is Festus portrayed in this account ? As a 

man how does he compare with Felix? 
What were Paul's chances under Festus? 
How are Agrippa and Paul set over against each 

other in strong light? 
How was Festus perplexed? How did he hope to 

extricate himself ? 
How did Paul shape his own destiny ? What were 

his reasons for taking so important a step? 
In their long crusade against Paul to what extent 

did the Jews succeed; to what extent did they 

fail? 
Was anybody satisfied with the result of this trial? 
Which of Paul's friends went to Rome with him? 

Notice the one not mentioned by name. 



ioo From Ccesarea to Rome 

Master the geography of this voyage. 

How long did it take them to go from Csesarea to 
Rome? 

How many ships did it take? 

What time of year was it? 

What does the narrative suggest about the regular 
routes of vessels at that time; the months when 
navigation was closed; the kind of traffic be- 
tween important points; the size of vessels; 
their equipment and management? 

What does the narrative suggest about the responsi- 
bility of Roman soldiers for their prisoners? 

How did Paul grow in the estimation of the cen- 
turion Julius? 

Note the various ways in which Paul ministered to 
the physical needs of his fellow-voyagers. 

How did he come to be the real leader and the de- 
pendence of the whole ship? 

What underhanded scheme did he discover? 

Why was his experience useful in danger at sea? 
2 Cor. ii : 25. 

Characterize this man Paul as he is pictured in the 
story of this voyage. 



From C cbs area to Rome 101 

What did the islanders think about him ? 
How was he received by the Christians of Rome? 
How was he enabled to pursue his work there ? 
How did the circumstances of his arrival in Rome 
belie his hopes of many years? 



XVII 

THE EPISTLES TO THE 
COLOSSIANS AND PHILEMON 



THE EPISTLES TO THE COLOSSIANS 
AND PHILEMON 

Master the geography. 

Where was Paul when he wrote these letters? 

Philem. I, 9; Col. 4: 3, 4, 18. 
What was he anxious for? Col. 4: 3, 9. 
Which of his friends were near him? Philem. 

1, 10-12, 23, 24; Col. 1: 1; 4: 7-12, 14; Acts 

20: 4; 2j: 2. 
What had happened to two of them? 
Which of them did Paul send with these letters ? 
Was the church at Colossse Jewish or Gentile? 

Col. 1 : 21, 27; 2: 13; 3: 11. 
Name two (or three) other churches associated 

with it. Col. 4: 13, 15, 16; Rev. 3: 14-22. 
What was the relation of Epaphras to these 

churches? Col. 1: 3-8; 4: 12, 13. 
What was his relation to Paul ? Col. 1 : 7. 
What was Paul's relation to these churches? 

Col. 2: 1. 



106 The Epistles to the Colossians and Philemon 

Contrast it with his relation to the church in Rome. 

Rom. i: 1-15; 15: 14-33. 
What did Philemon owe to Paul? Philem. 10. 
What seems to have been Philemon's position in 

the Colossian church? Philem. 2, 7. 
Who are included in his household? Philem. 1, 2, 

8-22. 
Who else was prominent in Colossse? Col. 4: 17; 

Philem. 2. 
What reasons does Paul himself give for sending 

two of his best helpers there? Col. 4: 7-9; 

Philem. 10-20. 
What comforting news did Paul hear about the 

Colossians? Who told him? Col. 1: 1-8; 2: 5. 
What pernicious ideas were current among them? 

Col. 2: 4, 8, 16-19. 
What false basis of morals was being taught? Col. 

2: 20-22. 
How did Paul combat these ideas ? Col. 1 : 9-23 ; 

2: 9-15. 
What was his idea of the true basis of holy living? 

Col. 2: 13—3: 4. 
Divide the Epistle to the Colossians into parts as 

follows : 



The Epistles to the Colossians a?id Philemon 107 

A few words of greeting and commendation; 

A description of the supreme glory of Christ as 

Creator and Preserver of all things; 
Paul's joy in proclaiming Him; 
Paul's anxiety lest the Colossians in emphasizing 

the value of unimportant details should miss 

this vision of Christ; 
Practical advice about daily living; 
Personal details and plans. 



XVIII 

THE EPISTLE TO THE 
EPHESIANS 



THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 

Where was Paul when he wrote this letter ? 3:1; 
4 : 1 ; 6 : 20. 

Who carried it? What else was he to do? 6: 21, 22. 

How many letters did Paul send at that time? 
Col. 4: 7-9, 16; Philemon. 

How much communication had there been between 
these churches and Paul before these letters 
were written ? 3 : 3 ; 1 : 15 ; 6 : 21, 22 ; Col. 1 : 9. 

What was their feeling about Paul? 3: 13; Col. 
1 : 24 ; Philem. 22. 

To whom is this letter addressed? 2: 11 — 3: 13; 
1 : 1 (margin). 

What do we know about them? 1: 15, 16. 

What does Paul ask them to do for him? 6: 18-20. 

What do 1: 15; 3: 1-12; 4: 20, 21; 6: 21, 22 sug- 
gest in regard to the intimacy of the relation 
between them and Paul? 

What does the absence of local allusions indicate? 



ii2 The Epistle to the Ephesians 

What kind of music did they have in the early- 
church? 5: 19; Col. 3: 16. 
What does the tone of 2: 11 — 3: 13 imply in regard 
to the outcome of Paul's efforts to solve the 
great problem of the early church? 
Divide the epistle into parts as follows: 
The greeting; 
God's thought for man; 
Paul's prayer for his readers; 
God's kindness to man; 
A beautiful description of church unity; 
Paul's mission; 
Conclusion of the prayer; 
A familiar benediction; 
Practical advice about daily living; 
Closing benediction. 
What conception of the church is well developed in 
Ephesians and Colossians? 1: 22, 23; 3: 10; 
5: 22-32; Col. 1: 18, 24. 
Study the Person of Christ as set forth in Ephesians 
and Colossians and tell: 
Who He is; 
His position in the universe; 



The Epistle to the Ephesians 113 

His relation to it; 
His relation to the church; 
Of His work for man. 
Compare Ephesians and Colossians and find pas- 
sages almost exactly alike in both. 



XIX 

THE EPISTLE TO THE 
PHILIPPIANS 



THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 

Recall the story of the founding of the church at 

Philippi. Compare i Thess. 2 : 2 with the Acts 

account. 
Who were associated with Paul at that time ? 
Was this church Jewish or Gentile? 
Through what experience did it pass ? 1 : 27-30. 
What had Paul already written to it about? 3: 1-3. 
Where was he when he wrote this letter? 1: y, 

12-14, 1 7> 4 : 22 - 
Who carried it to Philippi? 2: 25-30. 
How many journeys between Rome and Philippi 

does 2: 25, 26 involve? 
How did Epaphroditus happen to be in Rome? 

2: 25; 4: 10-18. 
What experiences did he have on the way there and 

in Rome ? 2 : 26-30. 
What touches in this passage reveal the affection 

between him and the church at Philippi ? 
What was Paul's opinion of him? 2: 25-30. 



n8 The Epistle to the Philippians 

To what extent had Paul suffered for lack of 

money? 4: 10-14. 
Who else was in Rome at that time? 1:1. 
What was he waiting there for? 2: 19, 23. 
Why was Paul so anxious to send him to Philippi? 

2: 19-23. 
In 1: 19-30; 2: 12-30 read Paul's thoughts about 

the prospect of his getting there again. 
How was he succeeding in his work in Rome? 

1 : 12, 13; 4: 22. Compare Eph. 6: 19, 20; 

Col. 4: 3, 4. 
What help and what hindrance did he have? 

1 : 14-17; 2: 20, 21. 
How did he make the best of it all ? 1 : 18-20. 
How did he show his affection for and his confi- 
dence in the church at Philippi ? 1 : 7, 8 ; 

4: 1, 10-20; 2 Cor. 11: 8, 9. 
What characteristic of this church was of value in 

his eyes ? 1:5. 
What was perhaps its distinctive feature? 4: 10-20; 

2 Cor. 8: 1-4; 11 : 9. 
What small troubles do 4: 2, 3; 2\ 2, 3, 14-16 

suggest ? 



The Epistle to the Philippians 119 

From the incidents related in this epistle judge how 

long Paul had been in Rome. 
Find in the epistle: 
A list of things to be thought about and acted 

upon; 
A familiar benediction; 
The passage describing Paul's opportunities, 

ideals, and standards; 
The beautiful passage describing the matchless 

example of Christ; 
The teaching in this passage about His Person. 



XX 
THE PASTORAL EPISTLES 



THE PASTORAL EPISTLES 

Find in I Timothy the one reference to geography. 
See also 3: 14, 15. 

Consider the movements of Paul and Timothy with 
reference to Ephesus and Macedonia recorded 
in The Acts and 1 and 2 Corinthians. 

Find in Titus the references to geography. 

How much do we know about the movements of 
Paul and Titus with reference to Crete and 
Nicopolis? See Rom. 15: 19. 

What can you gather from 2 Corinthians and Gal- 
atians about Titus; his history, character, abil- 
ity, and relation to Paul? 

Find in 2 Timothy the passages which bear on the 
historical situation. 

Is it the same as in Philippians or not? Compare 
especially 4: 6-8 with Phil. 2: 16-18. 

In view of these facts can these letters as they 
stand be fitted into the account of Paul's life 
in The Acts ? Consider the list in 2 Corinthians 
of his sufferings and persecutions. 



124 The Pastoral Epistles 

Assuming that 2 Timothy contains two letters of 
Paul as follows: 1. (1: 1-14; 2: 1-13; 4: 1, 
2, 5-8, 19, 21b, 10; 1: 15-18); 2. (4: 9, 11- 
18, 20, 2 1 a, 22b) ; fit each into the account of 
his life in the Acts. 

If taken as they stand, when were these Pastoral 
Epistles written? 

How does 2 Timothy differ from the other two? 

What does it reveal about the relation between Paul 
and Timothy? 

To what extent had Crete been evangelized? Titus 

1: 5- 

What type of man was needed there ? Titus 1 : 5, 
13; 2: 1, 7, 8, 15; 3: 10, 11. 

What serious opposition would he meet? Titus 
1 : 10-16. 

Who were the leaders of it? What were their mo- 
tives? Titus 1 : 10, 11; 3: 9. 

What should be done to counteract their influence? 
Titus 1: 5-9; 2: 2-6, 9-14; 3: 1-8. 

To what extent had church organization, work, and 
benevolence developed in Ephesus? 1 Tim. 
2: 8-15; 3: 1-13; 5: 1-25. 



The Pastoral Epistles 125 

What important matter needed attention? 1 Tim. 

3: 14, IS- 
What instructions about it do we find? 1 Tim. 

2: 1-4; 4: 13-16. 
What is the ideal held up to the minister? 1 Tim. 

4: 6-16; 6: 11-16, 20, 21. 
What false ideas and low standards of morality 

must we combat? 1 Tim. 4: 1-5; 6: 3-10, 

17-19. 
Point out in these epistles the quotations. Where 

are they taken from? 
Notice the peculiar expression introducing many 

of them. 
What unusual phrase denotes Christianity? 1 Tim. 

1 : 10; 4: 6; 6: 1, 3; 2 Tim. 4: 3; Titus 1:9; 

2: 1, 7, 10. 
What do these phrases, expressions, and quotations 

suggest about the date of these epistles? 



XXI 

THE EPISTLE TO THE 
HEBREWS 



THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 

In what respect is the beginning of Hebrews unlike 

that of any other epistle in the Xew Testament? 
What do we know about the author of this epistle? 

2: 3 (compare Gal. 1: I, 11, 12, 15-17); 

13: 18, 19, 23. 
What does he call it? 13: 22. 
How nearly can we fix its date ? 2:3; 5:12; 

10: 32, 33; 13: 7. 
What implies that it was written to a particular 

church or community? 6: 10; 10: 32-34; 

13: 7, 9, 18, 19, 23. 
Suggest the location of this church. 13: 24. 
What valuable characteristic had it? 6: 10. 
Through what experience had it passed? 10: 32-34. 
Describe its deplorable condition. 5: 11-14. 
What did the writer of this letter fear ? 2 : 1-4 ; 

3: 12 — 4: 13; 6: 1-12; 10: 19-39; I2: 2 5 -2 9- 
What did he want to prove? 8: 6-13; 12: 18-24. 



130 The Epistle to the Hebrews 

What comparisons does he make? 1: 1-14; 2: 5 — 
3: 6; 4: 14—S: 10; 6: 13—10: 18. 

What conclusions does he draw from these com- 
parisons ? 

What experience of Christ is emphasized? 2: 9, 
10, 14, 15; 5: 7-9; 7: 26, 27; 9: 13, 14, 26, 
28; 10: 10-12; 12: 2, 3; 13: 12, 13. 

What is its value? 1: 17, 18; 2: 10, 14, 15, 17, 18; 
4: 14, 15; 5: 9; 8: 1— 10: 25. 

What is the teaching of this epistle about the Per- 
son of Christ? 1: 1-13; 3 : 6; 5 : 5, 6, 8, 10; 
7: 28; 8: 1; 10: 12, 13; 12: 2. 

What is its teaching about the relation between 
knowledge and responsibility ? 2 : 1-4 ; 3 : 7 — 
4: 13; 5: 11 — 6: 12; 10: 19-31; 12: 1-28. 

What does this writer mean by faith ? 11: 1-40 ; 
10: 22, 23. 

What distinction of Christianity enables it better 
than other religions to meet human need? 
4: 16; 7: 19, 25; 10: 19-22. 

Why does the religion of Christ endure the test of 
time and of life? 7: 1 1, 16; 8: 6-13; 9: 13- 
15; 10: 1-18; 13: 15, 16. 



The Epistle to the Hebrews 131 

Divide the epistle into parts as follows : 

Several marked contrasts; each with its practical 
application ; 

A definition of faith eloquently illustrated; with 
its application; 

An inspiring description of the Christian's en- 
vironment; with solemn warning; 

Advice about daily living; 

A beautiful benediction. 



XXII 
THE EPISTLE OF JAMES 



THE EPISTLE OF JAMES 

What social conditions are reflected in this epistle? 

i: 9, 10 ; 2: 1-10; 4: 13 — 5: 6. 
How nearly can we fix its date? Notice especially 

5: 3> 7-9- 
What influence is clearly reflected in it? Compare 

1: 9-1 1 ; 2: 1-10; 5: 1-6 with Luke 6: 20-26; 

1: 22-27 w ^ tn Luke 11: 28; Matt. 7: 21-27; 

2: 8 with Matt. 22: 39; 

3: 11, 12 with Matt. 7: 16-18; 

4 : 4 with Matt. 6 : 24 ; 

4: 11, 12 with Matt. 7: 1-5; 

4: 13-16 with Luke 12: 16-30; Matt. 6: 25-34; 

5: 2, 3 with Matt. 6: 19; 

5 : 12 with Matt. 5 : 34-37. 
What title is applied to Christ? 2:1. 
What in the writer's opinion makes Christian living 

difficult? 1 : 19, 26; 3: 1-12; 5: 12. 
Who are held up as examples of righteousness? 
5: 10, 11. 



136 The Epistle of James 

Consider the writer's ideas about : 

God: 1: 5, 13, 14, 17, 18, 2J\ 2: 19; 3: 9; 4: 4— 

8: 12; 5: 4, 11; 
Man: 1 : 18; 3: 9; 
Sin: 1: 14, 15; 4: 17; 
Law : 1 : 25 ; 2 : 8-12 ; 
Judgment: 2: 13; 5: 19, 20; 
Faith : 1 : 6 ; 2 : 1 ; 
Prayer: 4: 3; 5: 13-18; 
Genuine religion: 1: 26, 27; 3: 13; 
The relative value of faith and works: 2: 14-26; 

compare Rom. 4: 1-5 1. 
What ideas in the epistle date back to Old Testa- 
ment times? Compare 
3 : 9 with Gen. 1 : 26 ; 5 : 1 ; 9 : 6 ; 
2: 1 with Lev. 19: 15; Deut. 1: 17; 16: 19; 

Prov. 24: 23; 28: 21 ; 
1: 17 with Num. 23: 19; 1 Sam. 15: 29; Hosea 

6: 3; Mai. 3: 6; 
1 : 10; 4: 14 with Job 14: 2; Ps. 102: 11 ; 103: 

15, 16; Isa. 40: 6; 
1: 22-27; 2: 14-26; 3: 13 with Lev. 19: 9-18; 

Deut. 24: 14, 15; Isa. 1 : 16, 17; 58: 6, 7; 



The Epistle of James 137 

Jer. 22 : 3, 13-17; Amos 5: 11-15; 8: 4-7; 
Micah 6: 8; Mai. 3: 5. 

What is the distinctive teaching of this epistle? 
1: 22-27 \ 2: 14-26; 3: 13. 

Compared with the other epistles in the New Testa- 
ment what is unique about it? 



XXIII 

THE EPISTLES OF PETER 

THE EPISTLE OF JUDE 



THE EPISTLES OF PETER 
THE EPISTLE OF JUDE 

Where was i Peter written? What do we know of 
its author? 5: 13, 1; 1: 1; 2 Peter 3: 1. 

Who were with him at the time? What had Sil- 
vanus to do with it? 5: 12, 13. 

Through what provinces were its first readers scat- 
tered? 1 : 1. 

How had they heard of the gospel ? 1 : 12, 25. 

Name several people each of whom had worked in 
some part of this region. 

Is this letter addressed primarily to Jews or to 
Gentiles? 1: 1, 10-18; 2: 3-12; 3:5, 6; 
4: 2-4. 

What immediate danger were they in ? 1:6, 7 ; 
2: 12-17; 3: 13-17; 4: I, 12-19; 5: 8-10. 

What authority was the source of this danger? 
Read 2: 12-17; 4: 15, 16, in the light of 1: 1. 

How are they advised to meet it ? 2: 12-25; 3 : 13— 
18; 4: 12-19. 



142 The Epistles of Peter — The Epistle of Jude 

What light do these references to danger throw 
upon the date of this letter? See also i : 5, 20; 

4: 7; 5: I, 13- 
What is the bearing of the following references? 
2 Peter 3: 15, 16. Compare 

I : 14 with Rom. 12: 2; 

1: 20 with Rom. 16: 25, 26; 

2 : 5 with Rom. 12:1; Eph. 2 : 20-22 ; 

2: 6-8 with Rom. 9: 32, 33; 

2: 13-17 with Rom. 13: 1-7; 

2: 24; 4: 1 with Rom. 6: 1-13; 

3: 18; 4: 6 with Rom. 5: 6-8; 8: 3-1 1; 

4: 10, 11 with Rom. 12: 6-8; 

1 : 6, 7 with James 1 : 2, 3 ; 

1: 23 with James 1: 18; 

5: 5-9 with James 4: 6, 7, 10; 

3 : 22 with Eph. 1 : 20-23. 
What experience of Christ dominates this epistle? 

1: 2, 11, 19, 21-24; 3: l8 ; 4= 1; 5'- !• 
What is noticeable about 2 Peter 2: 1-22 and Jude 

3 : 18? 

Which of these two passages is clearer? 
What illustrations are common to both or peculiar 
to each? 



The Epistles of Peter — The Epistle of Jicde 143 

What age do these epistles reflect? 2 Peter 3 : 1-10; 
Jude 3, 4, 17, 18, 20. On "faith" here compare 

1 Tim. 4: 6; 6: 21. 

What errors in belief were current? Jude 4-1 1; 

2 Peter 2 : 1-3. 

What practical results were evident? Jude 12, 13, 

16, 18; 2 Peter 2: 12-15, 17-19. 
What feature was a source of danger ? Jude 12. 
How was the situation to be met? Jude 3: 17-23; 

2 Peter 1: 5-1 1; 2: 20-22. 



XXIV 
THE EPISTLES OF JOHN 



THE EPISTLES OF JOHN 

What is the bearing of the following references? 
Compare 
i John i: i-io with John i: 1-18; 
1 John 1 : 6 with John 3:21; 
1 John 2: 14 with John 5: 38; 
1 John 3: 14 with John 5: 24; 
1 John 4: 9 with John 3: 16; 
1 John 4: 12 with John 1: 18; 
1 John 5: 13 with John 20: 30, 31; 

1 John 5: 20 with John 17: 3; 

2 John 5, 6 with 1 John 3 : 11; 5 : 2, 3 ; 

2 John 9 with 1 John 2 : 23 ; 

3 John 1, 3 with 2 John I, 4; 
3 John 11 with 1 John 2: 29; 
3 John 12 with John 21 : 24; 

3 John 13, 14 with 2 John 12, 13. 
What can be learned about the author? 1 John 
1: 1-3; 4: 14; 2 John 1: 10-13; 3 John I, 4, 
9, 10, 13, 14. 



148 The Epistles of John 

What light do 2 and 3 John and 1 John 2: 18, 28 

throw upon the date? 
In 1 John notice reasons for writing: 1: 1-4, 12- 

14; 2: 1, 26; 3: 7; 5: 13. 
Reflected in 2 John see the circumstances which 

occasioned its writing. 
In 3 John find three portraits or character sketches. 
What group of persons is mentioned? What are 

they doing? 
What two false ideas were current? 

1 John 2 : 22 ; 4 : 2-6 ; 2 John 7 ; compare Jude 4. 

1 John 1: 6, 8, 10; 2: 3, 4, 6, 9; 3: 4-12; 4: 20. 

How should they be met? 1 John 3: 7-10; 5: 1-12, 

18-21; 3 John 11; 2 John 8-11. 
Who were responsible for these ideas? 1 John 

2: 18, 19, 26; 4: 1-6. 
Consider the author's ideas about: 

God: 1 John 4: 8, 16; 1:5; 5: 20; 1: 1-4; 

3: 1,2; 2 John 3, 4; John 1: 12, 13; 
The way to know Him: 1 John 2: 3-6; 4: 1-2 1 ; 

5: 18-20; 
Sin: 1 John 3: 4; 1: 6; 5: 16, 17; 2: 22; 4: 3; 
2 John 7; 



The Epistles of John 149 

Salvation: 1 John 2: 29; 3: 9; 4: 7; 5: 1-5, 18; 

3: s, 8; 4: 14; 1: 7; 2: 1, 2; 4: 10; 
Eternal life: 1 John 5: 11, 12, 20; John 17: 3; 
Right living and right thinking: 1 John 3: 1-24. 



A FEW GENERAL QUESTIONS 



A FEW GENERAL QUESTIONS 

When the disciples recovered from the shock of 
Jesus' death and the surprise of His resurrec- 
tion, what did they believe about Him ? 

What did this belief stimulate them to do ? 

How did it arouse their patriotism? 

What incident suggests the means by which their 
new ideas first began to travel? 

What proves that they soon traveled to at least one 
large city? 

What conflict of ideas was sooner or later inevi- 
table ? 

What brought Christianity into distinct and open 
conflict with Judaism? 

In what city did Christianity plant itself that it 
might grow untrammeled by Judaism? 

What compromise was arranged between them? 

What was the difficulty about this compromise when 
applied to a special case ; Antioch, for instance ? 



154 <d Few General Questions 

What action which was epoch-making did the 

church there take? 
What is the underlying significance of Paul's First 

(recorded) Missionary Journey? 
Wherein lies the dramatic element in his Second 

(recorded) Journey? 
What was his great interest all through his Third 

(recorded) Journey? 
Why was his heart bound up in this plan? Why 

did he insist on going to Jerusalem at that 

time? Was it merely his desire to be present 

at the passover? 
How does his fate prove that Judaism and Chris- 
tianity were inherently antagonistic? 
What were his distinctive religious ideas? 
Which did he find most effective in the Greek 

world ? 
What were the distinctive ideas of the author of the 

epistle to the Hebrews? 
What experiences of Christ made a deep impression 

upon Peter? 
What were the distinctive ideas of John? 
Which side of religion is emphasized in the epistle 

of James? 



A Few General Questions 155 

What features in the history of Christianity ap- 
pealed strongly to the author of The Acts? 

What is the difference between the Christianity of 
the first Christians at Jerusalem and the Chris- 
tianity planted over much of the civilized world 
at the close of the first century? 

What were some of the great achievements of the 
apostolic age? 



LIST OF BOOKS 

Bacon, B. W. An Introduction to the New Testament. 
New Testament Handbooks. 
The Story of St. Paul. 

Stephen's Speech : its Argument and Doctrinal 
Relationship, in Biblical and Semitic Studies. 
Yale Bicentennial Publications. 

Ropes. The Apostolic Age. New Testament Hand- 
books. 

Gould. The Biblical Theology of the New Testament. 
New Testament Handbooks. 

Stevens. The Jlessages of Paul. Messages of the 
Bible. 
The Messages of the Apostles. Messages of the 

Bible. 
The Theology of the New Testament. Inter- 
national Theological Library. 

McGiffert. The Apostolic Age. International Theo- 
logical Library. 

Weizacker. The Apostolic Age of the Christian 
Church. (English translation.) 



158 List of Books 

Toy. Judaism and Christianity. 

Quotations in the New Testament. 
Sanday and Headlam. Romans. International Crit- 
ical Commentary. 
Bigg. St. Peter, St. Jude. International Critical Com- 
mentary. 
Bruce. The Epistle to the Hebrews. 
Plummer. The Pastoral Epistles. Expositor's Bible. 
Gloag. Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. 

Introduction to the Pauline Epistles. 

Introduction to the Catholic Epistles. 
Taylor. Paul the Missionary. 

Peter the Apostle. 
Stalker. The Life of St. Paul. 
Iverach. The Life of St. Paul. Men of the Bible. 
Conybeare and Howson. The Life, Time, and Travels 

of St. Paul. 
Ramsay. The Church in the Roman Empire. 

St. Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen. 
Smith,, G. A. Historical Geography of the Holy Land. 
Hastings. Bible Dictionary. 
Moulton. Modern Readers' Bible. 
Revised Version of the Bible, English and American. 



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